Update
Steephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)
Kasargod, Oct 21: As many as 59 people including school students were injured when the pandal erected for a school science exhibition collapsed at Bekur government higher secondary school, near Uppala on Friday afternoon, October 21.
The incident happened during the district level school science fair. The injured include 50 students. Of them, 14 students have been admitted to Mangaluru hospital. The remaining students have been admitted to Manjeshwar taluk hospital, Mangalpadi, Kasargod General Hospital and other hospitals for treatment.
Friday was the second day of the science expo at the school when the incident occurred. The pandal of metal sheets collapsed all of a sudden. It is said that more than 200 students were under the pandal. The students were pulled out from underneath and admitted to the hospitals. A few teachers and judges also were injured in the tragic incident.
More than 100 students from different schools had arrived for the fair from various parts of the district. It is said that a major tragedy was averted as most of the students had gone away for lunch when the pandal roof collapsed.
Primary investigations revealed that an unscientific method of erecting the pandal caused the incident.
Direction for investigations
Deputy commissioner Bhandary Swagath has directed the deputy director of the department of education to conduct investigations and submit a report. The responsibility of the investigations is vested on the district additional magistrate.
DC Bhandary Swagath, district SP Dr Vaibhav Saxena, education officer Nandikeshan, Dinesh, district medical officer Dr Ram Das, Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf and others visited the spot and conducted investigations.
Four people taken into custody:
Four people including the Pandal contractor and workers have been taken into custody by the police in this connection on the directions from the district SP. The SP said that suitable action will be taken against the guilty.
Earlier report
Kasargod: Roof collapse at science exhibition, several students injured
Steephen Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (MS)
Kasargod, Oct 21: Several students were injured as a tin sheet roof collapsed at the science exhibition that was being held at Bekur school near Uppala in the afternoon of Friday, October 21.
The Manjeshwar sub district level science exhibition was in progress at the school during the mishap.
Friday was the second day of the three-day science exhibition at the Bekur Government Higher Secondary School.
It is said that more than 200 students were stuck beneath the collapsed tin sheets. The students were taken out and admitted to hospitals. Some teachers and judges of the event also got injured.